The role of gender in heart transplantation.
BACKGROUND
The effect of donor and recipient gender on the outcome of heart transplantation (HT) remains uncertain.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-four patients who underwent HT were divided into four groups according to donor and recipient gender. Group A consisted of 81 men who received male donor hearts, group B of 18 women who received female donor hearts, group C of 21 women who received male donor hearts, and group D of 54 men who received female donor hearts. All patients were treated by the same group of surgeons according to standard HT protocols. Comparisons were made between groups with regard to short- and long-term outcomes.


RESULTS
Donor gender and recipient gender did not affect outcomes significantly. Overall, donor-recipient gender mismatching significantly increased the number of rejection episodes and reduced creatinine clearance, survival, and censored survival in the first year after HT (p < 0.05). More specifically, among female recipients, donor-recipient gender mismatching significantly increased the number of rejection episodes and decreased creatinine clearance in the first year after HT (p < 0.05); among male recipients, donor-recipient gender mismatching significantly reduced 1-year survival and censored survival to date after HT (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Donor-recipient gender matching plays a significant role in determining HT outcomes.
Prendergast
T W
TW
Section of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Temple University Health Sciences Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Furukawa
S
S
Beyer
A J
AJ
Browne
B J
BJ
Eisen
H J
HJ
Jeevanandam
V
V
D000328:Adult; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003404:Creatinine